A German Shepherds Diet?

Question
I will be getting a German Shepherd soon and the only problem I have is that I am worried if I feed the wrong diet and something will happen. I herd somewhere that if you feed a GSD puppy too much protien then their bones will grow too fast for them to handel. Is this true?

Also, I herd that a home made diet is the best for them and I know this is true. But what do I make and how much? Are there any foods that are bad for them in a average household? And for what I feed him when he is a puppy, do I need to change the diet when he gets older?

Thanks so much for your time with this!

Answer
Hi Staci,

I strongly advise against attempting a home made diet for a growing dog, unless it has been formulated by someone like myself, who can assure the correct nutrient balance at every stage of the first year.The biggest problem you face is not excess protein but excess energy (eg, calories, too much food) so do not overfeed or let your puppy get fat. Use a premium grade food and at the right levels. Steer clear of home prepared diet for a puppy unless you A) are very knowledgable or B) have a professional guiding you.
Excess energy and mineral is more a concern by far, than is excess calcium.

If you are feeding an All Life Stages food, then you don't need to switch. If you're using a puppy formula (I like Innova's Large Breed Puppy)then yes switch to Adult at about a year of age.
All the best, Catherine